FESTIVAL INFORMATION

Thanet

The Isle of Thanet’s three resorts, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are home to a plethora of pop up stalls, micro bars and vintage, collectable outlets, not to mention miles and miles of sandy beaches.

Dotted around Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and the villages, you’ll find tempting boutiques, artists’ and jewellers’ studios and lots more. Margate Old Town is full to the brim with independent antique, vintage, junk and nostalgic retro shops which pride themselves on offering unusual and original goods. The addition of The Turner Gallery adds award-winning design to the backdrop of Margate Harbour and it’s breathtaking sunsets.

Your Ticket

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES
The ultimate soulful festival experience:

Access to all participating venues:

Winter Gardens.

The Sunset Stage.

Olby’s Soul Cafe (3 Rooms Inc The Dug Out and Main Venue).

The Lighthouse.

Imperial Lounge.

You will be required to present your weekend or day pass wristband.

Accommodation

Thanet has a range of accommodation options available, from B&B’s to 4 star hotels. Central Margate gets booked up early for this event so we recommend you book your accommodation in a nearby town, just a short taxi ride from the festival area.

Timings

DATE: 3rd – 5th August 2018

TIMINGS:

Friday 2pm – 3amSaturday 12pm – 4amSunday 12pm – 6am

The Margate Soul Festival is spread over several venues and outside areas in Margate Old Town, Margate Harbour and Margate Winter Gardens. All venues are a short walk away from each other and will operate on individual time schedules so do check the event programme for exact itineraries.

The Management reserve the right to refuse admission please read our entry policy.

Outdoor Stages

For eleven years the sun has always shone bright on Margate and our outside stages will be at the very heart of the festival once again.

TICKETED OUTDOOR STAGE

The Sunset Stage – Introduced in 2016, the amazing Sunset Stage will be bigger, better and open later for 2017.

FREE ACCESS OUTDOOR STAGES

The Piazza – Zero Radio Stage.Market Place – Mi-Soul and Revenge of the Soulboy Stage.Fort Hill – Original Carnival Soul Sounds.

Stages will be open on Sat & Sun from 12pm – 6pm.

Travel

2018 will see the addition of a national transportation facility provided exclusively by Big Green Coach. They will be running day return coach services from both Brighton and London on the Saturday and Sunday timed to arrive around 12.30-1pm and then leave Margate at 12.30am each night.

Operating from Brighton and London terminals on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August.

Indoor Venues

We have 5 Indoor Stages for #MSFest2017. These venues are all ticketed arenas. You will not be permitted inside without a wristband.

Getting Around Margate

By BusStagecoach
Thanet is fortunate enough to have an excellent bus system. The comprehensive routes enable you to make the most of your visit by reducing journey times between each town and village.

‘The Thanet Loop’ is one of the most frequent services in the UK, running on average every 7 minutes and operates 7 days a week, from early morning until late evening. This service provides excellent connections between Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Other bus services offered by Stagecoach will enable easy access to the villages. The number 8 bus provides excellent links from Thanet to the nearby city of Canterbury.

A ‘Dayrider’ ticket is ideal for exploring the area, allowing you to hop-on or hop-off at any point, without limits and on any Stagecoach bus in Thanet.

Concessionary bus passes are also valid on all services. Restrictions may apply. Please contact Stagecoach for more details.

By Train
All stations in Thanet are served by the same line, making train travel between each point simple and quick. Stations are found in the main towns- Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate as well as Minster, Birchington, Westgate and Dumpton.

By Foot/Bicycle
We have an excellent coastal route which connects each part of Thanet. The Viking Coastal Trail is a 32 mile route, but you can pick and choose which parts to follow. Two thirds of the route is off-road so ideal for family walks or rides and the route is also signed throughout for convenience. Maps are available from the Thanet Visitor Information Centre in Margate without charge.

Food & Beverages

Margate has a plethora of cafes bars and restaurants situated within our site location, however in addition to this we have invited an eclectic mix of food, drink and family friendly concessions to ensure as much choice as possible is available to our visitors.

FAQs

Margate Soul Festival takes place in and around the creative quarter, known as Margate Old Town. We take over the streets, specific venues harbour, seafront and Winter Gardens for the whole weekend.

How Can I Get There?

Please use our route planner on the website, enter your location, select travel method then click ‘Get Directions’. Big Green Coach are also operating from both London and Brighton. MORE INFORMATION

Where Can I Find Information On Accommodation?

Thanet has a range of accommodation available for your stay from B&B’s to 4-star hotels. For more information go to EVENT FACILITIES.

Is There A VIP Ticket For 2018?

No. Everyone is a VIP at Margate Soul Festival.

Is There Car Parking?

You will find plenty of parking options in and around central Margate.

Are There Any Facilities For The Disabled?

The accessible facilities onsite are for festival goers with permanent disabilities or impairments as stated in the Equality Act 2010. Broken legs, recent injuries or pregnancy do not qualify for these facilities.

Site Layout and Ground Conditions is accessible to visitors with mobility impairments as the site is mainly level access with a few slight inclines.

Are Dogs Allowed On-Site?

With the exception of guide dogs, no animals are allowed on the ticketed festival arena sites.

Can I Bring My Own Food And Drink?

No food or drink can be taken into the main festival ticketed site, but don’t worry we have lots of great food and drink bars on site.

Can I Bring Chairs, Blankets And Gazebos Into The Main Festival Site?

Fold up chairs and blankets are permitted, however, if you intend to bring them into the arena we request that they are not used in the space between the stage and the mix tower.
Note: Gazebos and large parasol type umbrellas are not permitted as they restrict other festival goers’ views.

Can I Bring My Camera?

You may bring a “domestic” camera however, anything deemed professional (i.e. with detachable lenses etc.) is prohibited unless authorised by management in the ticketed areas.

Are Children Allowed?

On our free to access sites children and families are welcome as long as their accompanying adult(s) remain in full supervision of the children. This will be monitored by our stewards and security and any breaches to these conditions may result in you being asked to leave the site.

In our ticketed event arena a child or children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 yrs or older ID must be provided and both must be in possession of a valid pass or will be refused entry to the ticketed event space. Once inside the event space the child(ren) must remain under the supervision of an adult at all times.

In the interests of safety and security, Margate Soul Festival reserves the right, in its absolute discretion to change the age restrictions referred to in this condition, without any prior notification.

Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Bring To The Margate Soul Festival?

Illegal Drugs. The sale or use of legal highs is also banned within the festival ticketed areas. Please keep all of your valuables safe.

Rules and Safety

Margate Soul Festival is expecting thousands of visitors over the festival weekend. During your stay in the town please be aware of those who live nearby, and help us to keep it clean and protect the environment.

Disabled Access: All applications must complete the form below. We will then forward your completed form to Winter Gardens and they issue your ticket. We ensure parking is allocated if necessary